Sea Eagles light up the courts in style

THE reigning West Gippsland Football Netball Competition A grade premiers Inverloch Kongwak have kicked off their year in style, unveiling their premiership flag as well as some amazing new playing uniforms. 

After sporting their traditional blue uniforms for many seasons, the Sea Eagles will this year don brand new netball dresses covered in an incredible indigenous design. 

The new dresses, which were worn by all IK netballers from under 11s, to A grade on Saturday were designed by Safina Stewart.

Safina is a local indigenous artist who has moved to the area from interstate. he move to Bunurong Country made her connection to the design and the club extra special as she was recognising and acknowledging the contribution of the Bunurong Land Council, where IKFNC resides. 

She was proud to present the dresses to the reigning premiers at training last Tuesday night and gave a stirring and inspirational speech to the gold white and blue community and faithful and players, as the dresses were officially unveiled. 

“When you wear these uniforms I want you to remember the heart of what I’m telling you; to be a good community,” she said. 

“This will make you inclusive, welcoming and connected if you remember every single day – to actually live it out, don’t talk about it, live it out, through your attitudes, through your care and through behaviour, its bigger than sport,”

“Sport is powerful, clubs are powerful.” 

The dresses themselves are striking and eye catching in the best way and looked outstanding on the weekend at ‘the Nest’, but they’re bigger than just a style piece, as Safina mentioned, they’re deeply symbolic. 

The new uniforms represent inclusion, something that has been a strong focus lately at IK, and has been implemented brilliantly through the direction of head coach Jaz Walker, the committee and the Sea Eagles community.

In 2023, athletes who play netball for IK will have the ability to choose their most comfortable and preferred iteration of the gold white and blue uniforms, being able to choose between the traditional dresses, shorts, tights and singlets. 

The inclusive uniforms are set to arrive in coming weeks. 

Safina was extremely grateful to be a part of what is an amazing initiative taken by Inverloch Kongwak. 

“For me, being able to paint for a local community is a real gift,” she said. 

The Sea Eagles played some scintillating netball to begin their flag defence, claiming the 22 point win against Nar Nar Goon in the A grade division, they also picked up wins in the C, D and under 17s grades. 

IK’s next match will come in the form of a road trip to Phillip Island in Round 2.